Sudden spike in cholera cases

2004-02-23 16:44

Thandee N'wa Mhangwana

Barberton - Mpumalanga authorities are baffled at a fresh cholera outbreak in Barberton at the weekend that left 49 people hospitalised, and scores more receiving treatment at home.

The outbreak, in informal settlements surrounding the historic mining town, brings to 350 people infected since January and comes despite a concerted public prevention campaign in the district.

"We've been door-to-door in these settlements, teaching people how to avoid cholera by first boiling or otherwise treating water," said provincial communicable disease manager, Dr Cobus Hugo, on Monday.

"The bizarre thing is that infection rates were dropping steadily all of last week, so we really don't understand this sudden spike."

The new cases were reported from two clearly defined areas, with 23 new cholera cases confirmed in Umjindini immediately outside Barberton, and 26 new cases in at the Joe Slovo informal settlement in Tonga.

"Joe Slovo has been a priority target for our field workers from the beginning because of the extent of poverty and water scarcity, so we are particularly surprised at the new cases there," said Dr Hugo.

Health workers teach villagers how to serialise water, the importance of washing hands, and how to diagnose cholera symptoms such as extreme diarrhoea, fever, and vomiting.

Health officials are also attempting to address cholera's root causes in the region, ranging from cross-border transmission from Mozambique to the severe pollution of local river and ground water with human faeces and other waste.

"Rivers in the Tonga region all have extremely high quantities of e.coli bacterial caused by faeces, while rivers in the Umjindini region have tested positive for cholera itself," said Dr Hugo.

"We are meanwhile also testing to ensure that this latest surge in infections is not being fuelled by another as yet undetected disease."

- African Eye